Gas-engine.



No.729,700. 'PATBNTBD JUNE 2, 1903.

R; P. THOMPSON & E. KOE

GAS ENGINE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 8, 1901.

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R. P. THOMPSON & E. KOEB.

GAS ENGINE. APPLIOATIOH rum) NOV. a, 1901.

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. .ATENT Patentedj'une 2, 1903.

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RALPH P. THOMPSON AND EMIL KOEB, OF SPRINGFIELD, OI-IIO.

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SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent m. 729.700, dat u 1903- Application filed November 8, 1901. Serial No. 81,642. (No model.)

To all whom it may con/corn r Be it known that we, RALPHP. THOMPSON and EMIL KOEB, citizens of the United'States, residing at Springfield, in the county of Clark and State of Ohio, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Gas-Engines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates especially to supplying air under pressure to the compression and explosion chamber for clearance of the chamber of the products of an exploded charge and furnish fresh air for the next-to-be-exploded charge, and has for its object to supply a regulated quantity of air proportionate to the amount needed and no more for each operation, to insure a clearance of the compression and explosion chamber of the exploded gases and vapors before the introduction of the fresh-air supply and a new charge to the chamber, to furnish a clear passage between the air-chamber and the compression and explosion chamber of the engine and the exhaust by which the initial pressure from the pump Will force the air therefromthrough the compression and explosion-chamber and down the eduction-port to clear such chamber of the previousiy ex'ploded charge, to operate the power-pistons and the air-pump piston in the same axial line with the air-pumppiston connected to and operated fromone of the power-pistons and having an increased diameter over the diameter of the power-pistons, to utilize only so much of the full stroke of the air-pump piston as is required to supploded charge and furnish fresh air for the next charge, to control the air for the blast supplied from the pump by providing escapepassages in the cylinder of the pump for a portion of the stroke of the piston, leaving only a chamber of the requisite capacity for the amount of airto be supplied to the explosion-chamber, to prevent excessive pressure in the air-pump cylinder and insure a compression of the air-supply for the charge previous to theexplosionwithin the explosion-chambeigto improve the construction and operation of the air-supply pump and its piston and cylinder and its operation with the explosion-chamber and the power-pistons, and to improve generally the construction and operation of the parts pertaining to the view of a gas-engine, showing the cylinder for the explosion-chamber and the powerpistons and the cylinder for the air-pump piston and also the cross-heads, connectingrods, cranks, and crank-shaft; Fig. 2, a vertical central longitudinal section through the cylinder and pistons, showing the power-pistons receded and in position for an explosion of the charge and showing the air-pump piston receded; Fig; 3, a similar view to Fig. 2, showing the powenpistons advanced nearly to the limit of their stroke and the pump-piston advanced to a point where it Will act and force air into the explosion -chamber, with the eductionport for the exploded charge slightly opened and the induction-port for the fresh air just ready to openggand Fig. 4, a similar view to Fig. 2, showing the powerpistons advanced to the limit of their stroke and; the air pump piston advanced to the limit of-its stroke and with the induction and ed uction ports for the explosion-chamber both open, leaving aclear passage throughthe explosion-chamber for the air forced thereinto by the' advance of the pump-piston.

In the drawings only so much of a complete engine is illustrated as is deemed necessary to show the construction, relation, and operation of the parts pertaining to the invention, which relates to the air-pu mp and the explosion-chamber and the parts cooperating therewith. r 1

The main or engine cylinder proper, A, has at one end a neck or short extension A" and at the opposite end an extension A and the combined length of the cylinder and its extensions is to be such as to furnishthe chamher for the travel of the pistons and .asupport for the pistons. At the center, longitudinally of the main cylinder, on one side thereof, is an opening a, furnishing admission to the explosion-chamber of the cylinder, and through which the gas, and air for the charge are admitted to the explosion-chamber from a Suitable charging appliance. (Not shown, as it forms no part of the present invention.) The cylinder A on each side of the opening a has a double wall, furnishing an annular passage at around the cylinder on each side of the charging-opening, and, as shown, communication is established between 'the two passages by ports a and a suitable connecting-pipe, (not shown,) and an eduction-port a is provided for carrying off the cooling medium from the passages. At each end of the main cylinder in the arrangement shown is a port a for supplying oil or other lubricant to the power-pistons, which operate in the main cylinder at each end thereof. The interior of the main cylinder forms as a whole a single explosion-chamber, with end chambers for the travel of the power-pistons, and the piston-chambers B and B are separated for a portion of the diameter of the cylinder by an arched wall or bridge B located in line with the charging openings or passage a, and atone side of the wall or bridge is an induction port or opening I) for supplying fresh air to the explosion-chamber, and at the opposite side of the arched wall or bridge is an eduction port or passage 1) for escaping the burned gases and vapors after each explosion, and between the inner end of the arched wall or bridge and the charging opening or passage a is an opening b so that the explosive charge can lie between the two operating or power pistons, making the explosion-chamber common to both pistons.

The chamber B has located and operating therein a power-piston G, and the chamber B has located and operating 'therein a powerpiston G, which pistons have a reciprocating travel in their respective chambers to the limit of their strokes. Each power-piston in the construction shown consists of a cylindrical wall or shell 0, a closed end wall 0, and suitable packing-rings 0 extending circumferentially around the piston at the inner end thereof. The body of the piston C is longer than the bod y of the piston O and at its outer or advanced end carries a piston D, which.

may be cast or formed with the piston O or be separate therefrom and suitably connected therewith. The piston D is of a greater diameter than the piston C, with which it 'is connected, and is formed of a circumferential rim or shell 01 and'an end wall (1, with circumferential packing-rings (Z in the rim or shell of the outside. This piston is located and operates in a chamber E within a cylinder or casing F, which may be formed with the neck or end extension A of the cylinder A or may be separate therefrom and suitably attached thereto. The open end or the cylinder or shell F in the arrangement shown is closed by a cap or cover F, having therein perforations or holes f, which are closed by a flap-valve e, attached to the inner face of the cap and having its free end overlying the perforations or holes, so as to effectually close the perforations or holes when the valve is down, and when the valve is raised open the perforations or holes for the admission of air into the chamber E in advance of the piston therein. port or passage 9, which communicates with a pipe or conduit G, leading to the inductionport I) of the explosion-chamber, so that with the advance or outward stroke of the piston O, carrying with it the piston D, air will be forced from the chamber E through the port or opening g, pipe or conduit G, and port or opening 1) into the compression and explosion chamber, when the piston C is advanced a sufficient distance to uncover the induction port or opening leading into the compression and explosion chamber. The shell or casing F forms the cylinder-of an air-pump, having therein the chamber E, in which the air-pump piston D operates. The chamber E and the pump-piston therein are of an increased diameter over the chamber 13 and the powerpiston C therein, giving the air-pump an increased capacity over the capacity of the compression and explosion chamber, which, if the piston of the pump wasoperative its full stroke, would furnish a greater supply of air than required for use in clearing the explosion-chamber and furnishing the fresh air for the next charge. It is essential and necessary that the amount of fresh air supplied to the compression and explosion chamber must be sutficientto clearsuch chamber of the gases, vapors, and products arising from an exploded charge and at thesame time not have the supply of fresh air in excess of what is actually needed for clearance and for the new charge of air. The regulation and control of the fresh supply of air from the airpump is whollyby means of the piston of the pump and its containing-cylinder and is ob tained by utilizing only asufficient length of the stroke of the air-pump piston as is needed for the supply, allowing the piston to operate during a portion of its stroke without forcing air from the chamber to enter the compression and explosion chamber. The arrangement for regulating and controlling the air-supply shown is carried out by forming openings or passages in the shell or wall of the air-pump cylinder, which openings or passages terminate at a predetermined point forward, where a sufficient-length stroke remains to furnish the supply of air necessary for clearance and charging purposes in the compression and explosion chamber.

The power-piston O is carried by a crosshead H, and the power-piston O is carried by a cross-head H. The cross-head H at each end has connected thereto a crank-rod I,whicl1 operates a crank J of a crank-shaft K, and the cross-head H at each end thereof has connected thereto a crank-rod I, which operates a crank J on the crank-shaft, and the cranks J and J project on opposite sides of the crank-shaft,as usual. The crank-shaft passes under the arch or wall B and is supported by an arm or standard L, extending up from The cap or head F has therein a a base-plate L, bolted or otherwise secured to the cylinder A, and the base-plate Lin turn is supported on angle-beams M, forming a portion of a suitable framework for the engine. (Not shown.)

The cross-head H extends both sides of the powerpiston O, which it carries, passing through elongated openings htherefor formed in the wall or shell of the neck A and airpump cylinder F, and the cross-head H also extends on both sides of the cylinder 0, which it carries, passing through an elongated opening therefor formed on opposite sides of the shell or wall of the end extensions A of the main or engine cylinder, and, as shown, the openings 7t and h are of an elongated diamond shape, with the inner end of each opening terminating in the end of the main or engine cylinder. The opening l-Iat its outer or advanced end extends into the body or wall of the shell or cylinder F, and these openings 72. furnish the escape-passages for the air from the pump-cylinder in advance of the piston thereof to force air from the chamber of the cylinder through the conduit into the compression and explosion chamber of the engine. The terminus of the outer or advance end of each opening his at a line to leave a chamber between the ends of the opening and the cap or head F, which chamber between the piston and the head or cap after the piston passes the end of the opening is of a capacity to furnish the required amount of air for clearance and supplying air to the compression and explosion chamber with but little, if any, excess of supplied air over what is wanted for operation in the compression and explosion chamber.

Theoperationis asfollows: The engine when in condition for operation to receive a charge in the compression and explosion chamber for explosion therein to drive outward or advance the power-pistons has the several elements which enter into the present invention in the position shown in Fig. 2, in which position the powerpistons are both at the limit of their inward or return stroke, with their closed ends adjacent to the opposite sides of the arch or wall B and with the piston D of the force-pump for the air in initial or receded position, as shown in Fig. 2. The space between the power-pistons when in the position shown in Fig. 2 forms a contracted compression and explosion chamber, in which the explosion will act against the closed end walls of the power-pistons to force such pistons outward or in the direction of their advance stroke, and the space between the receded pump-piston and-the head or cap F forms an air-chamber which has a free communication through the openings h in advance of the piston with the outside of the cylinder F,so that with the initial outward movement or advance of theair-pump piston air will escape through the openings until the openings are covered by the rimor flange of the piston. The explosion of the gas in the compression and explosion chamber of the main or engine cylinder forces the powerpistons outward or in the direction of the advance stroke, the force of the explosion passing on both sides of the arch or wall, which serves as a deflector, insuring an equaleffect practically on both power-pistons from the explosion, and the force of the explosion will continue to act with its full eifect until the piston C at its closed end passes the port or opening 1), allowing the gases and vapors of the explosion to flow out at the opened port or passage and escape from the single explosion-chamber, and as the piston 0 reaches and passes the inner edge of the port or passage b the piston C has reached a point where the induction port or passage will be opened with the further outward movement or advance of the piston O and the pump-piston D has reached a point where its wall or rim closes the escape or discharge passages from the chamber E, confining the air in the chamber between the pistonand the head F, as shown in Fig. 3, in which position the products of the explosion can escape from the compression and explosion chamber at the eduction port or passage 1), partially clearing the chamber of the products of the explosion before the induction port or passage bis opened for the admission of fresh air into the compression and explosion chamber. The completion of the outward movement or advance stroke of the power-pistons bringsthe pistons into the position shown in Fig. 4, in which position the induction port or passage and the eduction port or passage are both open to their full extent for the free inflow and outflow of the fresh air forced into the compression and explosion chamber by the advance stroke or outward movement of the air-piston, which with the parts as in Fig. 4 has completed its stroke. The amount of air in the chamber E with the piston D in the position shown in Fig. 3 is sufficient for the purpose of eifectually clearing the compression and explosion chamber, as such air is forced from the chamber E through the conduit G into the compression and explosion chamber, so that with the completion of the outward movement or advance stroke ofthe air-pump piston the compression and explosion chamber will be free from the burned products of the previous explosionnvith the result that the next charge will be pure fresh air uncontaminate d with any ofthe gases or period of time the advancerof the pump-piston continues forcing air from chamber E thro ughthe conduit for the air to pass through the compression and explosion chamber, and

the ports or passages of the compression and explosion chamber will remain open during the inward movement or return stroke of the piston until the power-pistons reach and pass from the position inward, (shown in Fig. 3,) and during such inward movement or return stroke the air forced into the chamber will be discharged therefrom through the eduction port or passage until such port or passage is closed by the piston G, and for the remainder of the rearward movement or return stroke of the power-piston the air in the compression and explosion chamber-will be compressed between the two power-pistons until such pistons reach the position shown in Fig. 2, at which time another charge is entered and exploded in the chamber, forcing the pistons forward'to the limit of the advance stroke, as already described, during which movement the pistons of the engine and the pump-pistonwilloperate,as described, to open the ports or passages and force a blast of air from the chamber of the air-pump will continue as long as it isdesired to run or operate the engine.

The compression and explosion chamber is, in effect, a single chamber; but by reason of the arch or wall at the center thereof its ends become chambers, one for each power-piston, in which the pistons are reciprocated from the cross-heads and the connecting-rods from the cross-heads to the cranks of the crankshaft, as usual in the operation of a two-cylinder gas-engine. The interior diameter of the pump-cylinder and of the piston operating therein is greater than the interior diameter of the engine-cylinder and the powerpistons operating in such cylinder, and as a result the chamber of the pump can have escape-passages which permit of a free advance or forward movement of the pump-piston for a length of stroke sufficient to create the blast of air required without any back pressure, as the air in the chamber in front of the piston is free to pass out through the escapeopenings without producing a resistance suffioient to interfere with the advance of the pump-piston until the limit of the escapeopening is reached, and by having the eduction-port of the engine-cylinder open prior to the opening of the induction-port a free escape for the product of the explosion is provided, which leaves the cylinder for the powerpistons free of back pressure which might interfere with the inward movement or return stroke of the piston. It will thus be seen that p in operation both the pump and the engineclearance in such chamber for the next charge to be pure fresh air uncontaminated with the gases, vapors, and products of a previous explosion.

What we claim as new, and desireto secure by Letters Patent, is

' 1. In a gas-engine, and in combination with the compression and explosion chamber thereof, an air forcing and supply pump, having an air-escape in the wall of its cylinder at a predetermined distance forward or in advance of the limit of the inward movement or return 1 stroke of its piston, said air-escape opened and closed by the movements of the pumppiston and when opened furnishingafree escape and clearance of air in front of the piston and preventing back pressure on the piston, and when closed forming an air-chamber in advance of and closed at one end by the piston, the chamber having communication with the compression and explosion chamber and having a capacity for a sufficiency of air to clear the compression and explosion chamber of the engine of a previously-exploded charge and to furnish theair for the next succeeding explosive charge, substantially as described.

2. In a gasengine, and in combination with the compression and explosion chamber thereof, an air forcing and supply pump havinga cylinder of an interior diameter greater than the interior diameter of the explosion-chamber of the engine and having an escapeopening in its wall at a predetermined distance forward or in advance of the limit of the inward movement or return stroke of its piston, said escape opened and closed by the movements of the pump-piston, and when opened furnishing a free escape and clearance of air in front of the piston and preventing back pressure on the piston, and when closed forming an air-chamber in advance of and closed at one end by the pump-piston, the chamber having communication with the compression and explosion chamber and having a capacity for a sufficiency of air to clear the compression and explosion chamber of the engine of the previously-exploded charge and to furnish the air for the next succeeding explosive charge, substantially as described.

3. In a gas-engine, the combination of an engine-cylinder having therein a compression and explosion chamber,a power-piston located and operating in the engine-cylinder in juxtarelation to the explosion-chamber, an air forcing and supply pump having its cylinder in axial line with and of greater interior diameter than the power-cylinder and provided through its wall with an escape opening or passage for air, located at a predetermined point in relation to the traverse of the pumppiston, a pump-piston located and operating in the air-pump cylinder for its movements to open and close the escape opening or passage, and when opened furnishing a free escape and clearance of air in front of the piston and preventing back pressure on the piston, and when closed forming an air-chamber in advance of and closed at one end by the pump-piston, and a conduit leading from the chamber of theair-pump forward of the piston to the compression and explosion chamber in the engine, for conveying air from the chamber of the pump to the compression and ,explosion chamber, substantially as described.

4. In a gas engine, the combination of an engine-cylinder provided with avcompression and explosion chamber, an arch or wall projecting into the compression and explosion chamber of the engine-cylinder, a pair of power-pistons on opposite sides of the arch or wall, an air forcing and supply pump having its cylinder in axial line with and of greater'interior diameter thanthe power-cylinder and provided through its wall with an escape opening or passage for air located at a predetermined point in relation to the traverse of the pump-piston, a pump-piston lo-- cated and operating in the air-pump cylinder for its movements to open and close the escape opening or passage, and when opened furnishinga free escape and clearance of air in front of the piston and preventing back pressure on the piston and when closed forming an air-chamber in advance of and closed at one end by the pump-piston, and a conduit leading from the chamber of the air-pump forward of the piston to the compression and explosion chamber in the engine, for conveying air from the chamber of the pump to the compression and explosion chamber, substantially as described.

5. In a gas-engine, the combination of an engine-cylinder having therein a compression and explosion chamber,a power-piston located and operating in the engine-cylinder in juxtarelation to the explosion-chamber, an air forcing and supply pump having its cylinder in axial line with and of greater interior diameter than the power-cylinder and provided through its Wall with an escape opening or passage for air, located at a predetermined point in relation to the traverse of the pumppiston, a pump-piston located and operating in the air-pump cylinder for its movements to open and close the escape opening or passage and when opened furnishing afree escape and clearance of air in front of the piston and preventing back pressure on the piston and when closed forming an air-chamber in advance of and closed at one end by the pump-piston, an eduction-port at the front or outer end of the chamber of the air-pump and a conduit connecting the eduction-port of the air-pump with the induction-port of the compression and explosion chamber of the engine, for conveying air from the chamber of the pump to the compression and explosion chamber, substan tially as described.

6. In a gas-engine, the combination of an engine-cylinder having a compression and explosion chamber, a pair of power-pistons operating in the engine-cylinder on opposite sides of the compression and explosion chamber, an eduction and induction port or passage for the compression and explosion chamber, each portor passage opened and closed by the traverse of the power-piston, an air ,forcing and supply pump having its cylinder and when opened have the air-escape and furnish a clearance of air in front of the piston and preventing back pressure on the piston, and when closed forming an air-chamber in advance of and closed at one end by the pu1nppiston, an eduction-port at the front or outer end of the air-chamber of the air-pu mp, and a conduit connecting the eduction-port of the air-pump with the induction port of the compression and explosion chamber of the engine, for conveying air from the chamber of the pumpto the compression and explosion chamber,substantially as described.

7. In a gas-engine, the combination of an engi ne-cylinder having a compression and explosion chamber, an arch or wall projecting into the compression and explosion chamber, a pair of power-pistons operating in the engine-cylinder on opposite sides of the arch or wall, an eduction-port on one side of the arch or wall, an induction-port on the opposite side of the arch or wall, said ports controlled by the traverse of the respective power-pistons in the engine-cylinder, for the eduction-port to open before the ind notion-port is opened,

allowing escape of the products of the explo sion before the pistons reach the limit of their outward or advance stroke, and an air-pump having its cylinder provided with an escape through its wall for preventing back pressure on the pump-piston and having the escape closed at the advance of the piston at a predetermined liue forming an air-chamber in advance of the piston, said air-chamber having communication with the induction-port of'the engine-cylinder, substantially as described.

8. In a gas-engine, the combination of an engine-cylinder having a compression and explosion chamber, an arch or wall projecting into the compression and explosion chamber, a pair of power-pistons operating in the engine-cylinder on opposite sides of the arch or wall, an eductiomport on one side of the arch or wall, an induction-port on the opposite side of the arch or wall, said ports controlled by the traverse of the respective power-pistons in the engine-cylinder for the eduction-port to open before the induction-port is opened, allowing the escape of the products of the explosion before the pistons reach the limit of their outward or advance stroke, and an air-pump having its cylinder provided with an escape through its wall for preventing back pressure on the pump-piston and having the escape closed at the advance of the pistons at a predetermined line, forming an air-chamber in advance of the piston, a port at the front end of the air-chamber, and a conduit leading from the port to the induction-port of the compression and explosion chamber for supplying air from the pump-chamber to the compression and explosion chamber, substantially as described.

9.: In a gas-engine, the combination of an engine-cylinder havingacompression and explosion chamber, a pair of power-pistons located and operating in the engine-cylinder, an induction and an ednction port'for the compression and explosion chamber opened and closed by the traverse of the power-pistons, for the ednctinn-port to remain open with the induction-port opened, and to close before the induction-port is closed, and an air forcing and supply pump located in axial line with the cylinder, and having the I wall of the pump-cylinder provided with an air-escape at a predetermined distance forward or in advance of the limit of the inward movement or return strokeof the piston of the air-pump, said air-escape opened and closed by the movement of the pump-piston and when opened furnishing a free escape and clearance of air in front of the piston and preventing back pressure on the piston, and when closed forming an air-chamber in advance of and closed at one end by the pumppiston, the chamber having communication with the induction-port of the compression and explosion chamber for initially supplying air to the chamber for the clearance of the chamber from the products of the previously-exploded charge and continuing the supply of air with the eduction-port of the compression and explosion chamber closed to furnish the air for the next succeeding explosive charge in the compression and explosion chamber, substantially as described.

RALPH P. THOMPSON. EMIL KOEB.

Witnesses: I

D. Z. GARDNER, T. J. MCCORMICK. 

